Apparatus for ejecting fluids from wells



Oct g v R. H. TUCKER APPARATUS vFon EJECTING FLUIDs FROM wELLs FiledJune' 1. 1922 I Patented Oct. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. TUcxEn, oE Los -Aue-Enns, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR EJECTING FLUIDS FROM WELLS.

Application filed Iune 1, 1922. Serial 170,565,132.

ing apparatus in which there is provided a stationary foot sectionhaving a lstationary upwardly extending sleeve. Upon this sleeve thereis slidably fitted a pistonv operating in the stationary pump footsection. Means Vare provided for forcing compressed air down into thecenter sleeve and guide upon which the piston slides so that anaccumulated air pressure serves to act as a piston for lifting theplunger member in the foot section. Means are also provided forreleasing the accumulated-air pressure after the pump plunger hasreached a predetermmed polnt in its upward liquid lifting) Stroke.

ther objects will be made manifest in the following specification of anembodi ment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in whichl Figure 1 is a vertical ntral section through a form of thepump- Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The presentpump is shown as of the type adapted to be lowered into thebottom of a well hole W in which there is arranged the outer casing Cwhich is perforated as at 2 at its lower portion for the `reception ofwell liquid.

Substantially concentrically spaced with.- in the casing C is a pumptubing 3 of any suitable number of sections, and this is provided with afoot section 4 at its lower end, the foot section being connected to theupper sections as by a suitable coupling 5 of differential diameters;the foot section being somewhat smaller in diameter than the uppersections 3, of which the lower part of only one is shown.

The foot section 4 is provided with a substantial shoe 6 closing thelower section 4 and carrying on its lower face a screen 7 of anysuitable construction for admitting the well liquid. The shoe 6 isprovided with a series of valve seats 8 upon which rest upwardly openingvalves 9 of any suitable construction and design. -Co-axially arrangedupon the shoe 6 is an air pressure column 10 of suitable diameter andwhich extends a `desired height upwardly from theV shoe. Surrounding theair column 10 is a sleeve 11 having a transverse head 12 from whichextends upwardly ai short reduced stem 13.v The'head or shoulder 12 ofthe sleeve 11 is normally forced down toward the upper open end ofthe'column 10 by an.

expanslon spring 14, the upper end of which enga-ges a. suitable supportas a gland nut 15 threaded intothe contiguous end of an air pipe 16, tothe lower end of which is secured a spider 16, the rim of which is ofsuch diameter as to slide freely down through the pump tube 3 and restupon the upper end of the pump foot section 4. The lower end'of thespring rests upon the upper face ofthe head 12.

The sleeve 11 slidably and snugly fits upon the column 10 and carries apistonl'ike flange 17 having a cylindrical wall 18 about which isdisposed suitable packing l means 19 slidably bearing upon the lowerinner surface of the foot section 4. Therefore, the cylindrical wall 18with its sleevey 10 and its Stem 13 forms a substantially unitary orintegral device operating in the nature of a piston or plunger. v

Upon the diametrical wall or iange 17 of the plunger there is seated asuitable number of desirable upwardly opening check valves 20'.

The pipe 16 is constructed of any suitable number of sections and servesas a conduit for compressed air which, when forced downwardlytherethrough, enters the tubular stem 13 land the stationary compressionchamber or column 10 in which the pressure of the air reacts as a pistonupon the piston part 12 of the plunger device and as theaccumulatedpressure overcomes the pressure of the column of liquid in thev pumptube 3 the plunger is bodily lifted against the reaction of the spring14 and the sustained column of liquid 'is movedupwardly and dischargedfrom lthe outlet at the head of the pump. During' the upwardmovementofthe plunger head 17, the tendency to vacuumize the chamber above theshoe 6 causes the opening of the valves 9 and the inflow of fluid intothe plunger chamber below the head 17. l.

A. feature of the invention is that aswell as providing a pneumaticallyoperative pump plunger, further, air is intermittently discharged intothe column of Huid in the pump tube 3, and this air facilitates inrendering the liquid buoyant and .accelerates the discharge by virtue ofdisplacement. 'll`o that end, the sleeve 11 of the plunger is providedwith suitable means for releasing the compressed air in the air column10 when the plunger device has reached a predetermined position in itsascent. A form of air releasing means is shown as comprising a series ofradially arranged outlets 21 in the sleeve 11, and these outlets areprovided with upturned ends carrying check valves 22. When the outlets21 are shifted upwardly, as to the end of the column 10,then the aircompressed therein is permitted to escape outwardly through the checkvalves 22 and will enter and comingle with the column of liquid in thewell tube 3.

Since the plunger device is elevated through the instrumentality oicompressed air, it will be clear that as soon as the relief valves oroutlets 21 communicate with the compressed air in the column 10, thenthe pressure of the air will instantly tall and the plunger will startits descent which, underthe load of the liquid in the pump tube and bythe reaction of the spring 14:, will cause the plunger to return to itslowermost position until air pressure is again built up after theoutlets and valves 22 have been shifted down to cut ed the escape ofair.

'llhe pump plunger stem 13 is guided at lts upper end in the air pipe13, and when it is desired to remove the pump plunger from the well, theair pipe 16 is lnfted until it brings the packing seat 16 therein upagainst a collar 13 on the upper end of the .stem 13. Thereafter,further upward pullmg o f the air pipe 16 serves to carry with the plpethe spider 7 and the plunger device leaving the foot section d in itsstationary position in the well'casing.

Various modifications and changes may be resorted'to within the spiritof the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatically operated plunger pump consisting of a stationary pumptube havlng a f oot section provided with inlet valves in its lowerportion, a stationary compressed air column fixed to the foot sectlon,an air pressure pipe arranged in the pump tube, a piston-like plungeroperatlvely fitting the foot section and having communication with theair pipe whereby compressed air may be delivered from. the pipe intosaid column whereby its pressure 1s operative as a piston upon theplunger to litt the same, and automatic air exhaustvalves carried by theplunger.`

2. A pneumatically operated plunger pump consisting of a stationary pumptube having a foot section provided with inlet valves in its lowerportion, a stationary compressed air column xed to the foot section, astationary air pressure pipe arranged in and extending nearly to thebottom of the pump tube, a piston-like plunger operatively fitting thefoot section and having communication with and sliding in the vair pipewhereby compressed air may be delivered from the pipe into said columnwhereby its pressure is operative-as a piston upon the plunger to liftthe same, and

vmeans for intermittently releasing air from the compressed air chamberin the apparatus into the liquid in the pump tube.

3. A pneumatically operative plunger pump comprising a stationary inletvalved means including a pump tube to be arranged ina well hole, aplunger valved device operative within said tube by pneumatic pressurecreated therein and through which `well fluid passes, and ymeans forintermittently discharging air from said means into the pump tube.

4t. A pneumatically operative plunger pump consisting of a pump tubehaving a valved inlet means at its foot, a compressed air column ixed tothe foot of the tube, an air supply pipe extendingl down into the tubeand spaced above said column, a plunger device slidably tting saidcolumn and having a part slidably fitting in the air suppl pipe andproviding for communication between said pipe and said column whereincompressed air acts as a piston upon said plunger device to shift thesame in one direction for elevating liquid in the pump tube and an airexhaust means for discharging the air column.

5. A. pneumatically operative plunger 'pump consisting of a pump tubehaving a valved inlet means at its foot, a compressed air column fixedto the foot of the tube, an airV supply pipe extending down into thetube and spaced above said column, a plunger device slidably fittingsaid column and having a part slidably fitting in the air supply pipeand providing for communication between said pipe and said columnwherein compressed air acts as a piston upon said plunger device toshift the same in one direction for elevating liquid in the pump tube.and means operative during the relative movement of lsaid plunger deviceand the air pressure column for intermittently discharging air into theliquid in the pump tube.

6. A pneumatically operative plunger pump consisting of a pump tubehaving a valved inlet means at its toot. a compressed air column xed tothe foot of the tube, an air supply pipe extending down into the tubeand spaced above said column, a plung- CID er device slidably fittinglsaid column and having a part slidably fitting in the air suppl pipe andproviding for communication iietween said pipe and said column whereincompressed air acts as a piston upon said plunger device to shift thesame in one direction for elevating liquid in the pump tube, and meansoperative during the relative movement of said plunger device and theair pressure column for intermittently discharging air into the liquidin the pump tube, said means comprising air outlets arranged on theplunger device and which are designed to be uncovered by the upwardmovement thereof with respect to the air column.

7. A pneumatically operative plunger pump consisting of a pump tubehaving a valved inlet means at its foot, a compressed air column fixedto the foot of the tube, an air supply pipe extending down into the tubeand spaced above said column, aplunger device slidably fitting saidcolumn and having a part slidably fitting in the air supply pipe andproviding for communication between said pipe and said column whereincompressed air acts as a piston upon said plunger device to shift thesame in one direction for elevating liquid in the pump tube, meansoperative during the relative movement of said plunger device and theair pressure column for intermittently discharging air into the liquidin the pump tube,l

and means for returning the pump plunger to its lower position.

8. A pneumatically operative plunger pump consisting of a pump tubehaving a valved inlet means at its foot, a compressed air column fixedto the foot of the tube, an air supply pipe extending down into the tubeand spaced above said column, a plunger device slidably fitting saidcolumn and having a partslidably fitting in the air supply pipe andproviding for communication between said pipe and said column whereincompressed air acts as a piston upon said plunger device'to shift thesame in one direction for elevating liquid in the pump tube, meansoperative during the relative movement of said plunger device and theair pressure column for intermittently discharging air into the liquidvin the pump tube, and a spring for returning the pump plunger to itslower position.

9. A pneumatically operative plunger pump consisting of a 'stationarypump tube having a` foot section provided with inlet valves, said footsection having a. central, upwardly extending column; a stationary airpressure pipe extending down in the pump tube; a piston-like plungeroperatively fitting the foot section and having a portion slidablyfitting 'the said column, an'

operating connection between the lower end o the stationary air pipe andsaid plung-l er whereby air is conveyed down to the air column, andmeans for discharging the compressed air from the column.

10. A pneumatically operative plunger pump including a stationary pumptube having afoot section with inlet valves, a stationary air supplyingmeans extending down in the pump tube and nearly to the bottom thereof;an air column fixed to the foot section; a plunger device surroundingsaid column and operating on the same and having a packed running fitwith the tube; `an operating means connecting the stationary air pipeand the air column to supply air to the latter and which is connected tothe plunger to operate the latter; and means for exhausting thecompressed air at the upper stroke of the plunger.

11. A pneumatically operative plunger pump including a stationary pumptube having a foot section with inlet valves; a stationary air supplyingmeans extending down in the pump tube andnearly to the bottom thereof;an air column fixed to the foot section; a plunger device surrounding'said column and operating on the same and having a packed running fitwith the tube; an operating means connecting the stationary air pipe andthe air column tosupply air to the latter, said connecting meanslincluding a piston-like part upon which the compressed air in thecolumn reacts, and which is connected to the plunger to operate thelatter; and means for exhausting the compressed air at the upper strokeof the plunger.

12. A pneumatically operative plunger pump including a stationary pumptube havlng an inlet-valved foot section; a stationary compressed aircolumn; a piston-like plunger operatively fitting the foot section andbeing provided with upwardly opening valves for the passage of well uidon the downward stroke of the plunger; means for supplying compressedair to said column to operate the plunger; and means for exhausting airfrom the column at the end of the upward stroke of the plunger.

13. A pneumatically operative plunger pump including a stationary pumptube hav- 'ing an inlet-valved foot section; a stationary compressed aircolumn; a piston-like plunger operatively fitting the foot section andbeing provided with upwardly opening valves for the passage of wellfluid on the downward stroke of the plunger; means for supplyingcompressed air to said column to operate the plunger; and means forexhausting air from the column at theend of the upward stroke of theplunger; said supplying means including a stationary air pipe extendingdown into the tube and an operating tubular connection communicatingwith the said column.

14. A pneumatically operative plunger pump including a stationary pumptube having an inlet-valved foot section; a stationary compressed aircolumn; a piston-like plunger operatively fitting the foot section andbeing provided with upwardly opening valves for the passage of wellfluid on the downward stroke of the plunger; means for supplyingcompressed air to said column to operate the plunger; and means forexhausting air from the column at the end of the upward stroke of theplunger; said supplying means including a stationary air pipe extendingdown into the tube and anV oper` ating tubular connection communicatingwith the said column ,and being' connected to the piston-like plunger.

15. A pneumatically operative plunger pump including a stationary pumptube having an inlet-valved foot section; a stationary compressed aircolumn; a piston-like plunger operatively fitting the foot. section andbeing provided with upwardly opening valves for the passage of wellfluid on the downwar'lstroke of the plunger; means for supplyingcompressed air to said column to operate the plunger; and means for eX-hausting air from the column at the end of the upward stroke of theplunger; said air supplying means including a stationary air pipeextending down into the pump tube and ending near the bottom thereof,and having a sliding extension fitting the colf umn and formingcommunication between the columnv and the ed to the plunger.

navman pipe, and being connect- 16. A pneumatically operative plungerpump including a stationary tube having an inlet-valved foot section, astationary air column forming a pneumatic cylinder nxed in the bottom ofthe column, a plunger slid- 40 ably fitting the column and thetube, astationary air pipe extending down into the tube and terminating abovethe said col-q, umn, a conduit slidably mounted in the lower end of saidpipe and communicating with the stationary column and being con` nectedto the plunger, and means for enhausting air from the column at theupper limit of movement of the plunger.

17. A pneumatically operative plunger ably fitting the column and thetube, a sta`r 555 tionary air pipe extending down` into the tube andterminating above the said column, a conduit slidably mounted in thelower end of said pipe and communicating with the stationary column andbeing con` nected to the plunger, and means for eX- hausting air fromthe column at the upper ,limit of movement of the plunger, said conduitproviding a connection with the air pipe wherebythe plunger can bepulled from 05 the tube when the air pipe is pulled.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specilication.

RALPH n; rnonnn.

